Page 62 of Gilded Locks

It didn’t take long for her to find a brass bear head, looking directly at her. Unsure who watched on the other end, she lifted a hand from the water, stuck out her tongue and popped the middle finger.

“Do you think you’re funny?”

Water sloshed as she jolted and looked back at the door, but she was all alone.

“To your right. The lamp.”

She looked at the accent table where an apothecary assortment of perfumes and salts sat on a gold tray. Hidden at the base of the lamp was a small speaker.

She looked back at the bear and narrowed her eyes. “Pervert.”

“Guilty. Did you sleep well?”

Only then did she realize it was Ash on the other end. His easy-going tone gave him away. “Yes. I don’t remember getting here.”

“You passed out. Stone put you to bed.”

“S—Stone?” She didn’t like the thought of him touching her while she was unconscious.

“Relax. He was a perfect gentleman. And feeling rather sheepish for his earlier tantrum. He carried you up while you were sleeping. It was the least he could do.”

“Oh.” She believed Ash, her nerves at ease again.

“Shit. I have to take this call. Enjoy your bath, printessa.”

He stopped talking, but that didn’t mean he stopped watching or listening. She pictured him in a dark room filled with monitors. Or maybe it was through their phones. Could they all see her? She slouched lower in the water, still on edge at the thought of having an audience.

When she finished washing, she brushed her hair to one side and tied it back with a blue satin ribbon. Then she returned to the bedroom, surprised to find a sweater dress laid out on the bed that hadn’t been there before. And it was just her size.

She glanced around nervously, making sure she was alone before checking the label. Definitely women’s.

“How frequently do they host hostages here?” she muttered, pulling the dress over her head. It was loose-fitting and fell just to her knees. “Ooh!” She spotted a tall pair of suede boots on the floor beside the bed. Brand new and just her size!

She pulled them on, dragging the zipper up slowly. The butter soft suede went to her thighs and had a tiny gemstone in the heel that looked like smoky quartz.

She examined her reflection in the mirror. It was the cutest she’d looked in months and the closest she’d felt to normal since that horrible day they sent her away.

Paranoia set in. Why were they spoiling her? They hated her. This had to be some sort of trap. As much as it killed her, she removed the boots and put them back beside the bed.

“Don’t they fit?”

She spun toward the door, but was still alone. She padded barefoot to the bedside lamp, but didn’t see a speaker. “Ash?”

“What was wrong with the boots?”

She continued to search for the speaker. “Nothing.”

“Then why did you take them off?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“You clearly liked them. Were they too small?”

“No.” She lifted a perfume bottle and checked the bottom. “Where are you?”

“Too big?”

“No.” She searched the door frame unsure how small a speaker could be.